Internships FAQs

Please read the FAQs below for answers to internship-related questions you may have. If you still have questions, please contact us at info@ie3global.org

Why choose IE3 Global:

What are the benefits of an IE3 Global internship?
How is interning abroad different than a traditional study abroad program?

Program Eligibility

Am I eligible to participate in an IE3 Global internship abroad?
Am I eligible to participate in an IE3 Global virtual internship?

Planning to apply for an internship:

What are the application deadlines for an internship?
When is the best time to do an internship?,
How long is an internship?
Am I eligible to participate in an IE3 Global internship?
How can I plan for an IE3 Global internship?
How do I work with my campus study abroad office?

Costs and Funding:

How much does an IE3 Global internship cost?
Can I use student loans, financial aid, academic grants and scholarships to help fund my internship abroad?

Academic Credit:

How do I receive academic credit for my IE3 Global internship?

Application and Selection Process:

What is the selection process for an IE3 Global internship?

Intern preparation and support:

When are the orientations and what do they cover?
How does IE3 Global support intern health and safety?

Past IE3 Global interns:

I am a past IE3 Global participant. How can I support IE3 Global and future interns?

WHY CHOOSE IE3 GLOBAL?

What are the benefits of an IE3 Global internship?

IE3 Global has over 25 years of experience placing and supporting interns abroad. Our interns:

Gain hands-on professional experience to build their resume and increase marketability.
Experience the real world application of classroom theories and concepts.
Work with and learn from seasoned professionals.
Clarify and strengthen their academic and career goals.
Receive support from Program Coordinators with international experience and cultural expertise.
Build transferable skills such as: flexibility, problem solving, and cross-cultural communication.
Can use student loans, grants, scholarships, and financial aid to help fund their internship abroad.
Report increased self-confidence, independence, and professional drive upon completing an internship.
Enhanced perspective on their future career options.

How is interning abroad different than a traditional study abroad program?

IE3 Global internships are generally going to require greater maturity, professionalism, and independence than a more traditional study abroad program. Interns work full-time and operate outside the structure and familiarity of a college setting. They should expect to navigate day-to-day life abroad with greater autonomy, self-reliance, and personal accountability. Depending on the internship site, an intern may find they are the sole intern/foreigner in their workplace.

IE3 Global supports interns through all stages of the program: application, pre-departure, working abroad and re-entry. In particular, IE3 Global provides significant pre-departure preparation, guidance, and training, so that interns have the necessary knowledge and tools they will need to successfully navigate life and work abroad.

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY

Am I eligible to participate in an IE3 Global internship abroad?

A student is eligible to participate in an IE3 Global internship if they:

Have junior standing or above. This includes juniors, seniors, post-baccalaureate, graduate, or PhD students
Are currently enrolled in a degree program at a participating college or university
Are in good academic standing with a minimum 2.5 GPA*
Pass the conduct and care check for their school.

Read the individual position descriptions for information about required skills, training, and language requirements specific to a particular internship.

*Students with a GPA below 2.5, may be considered on a case-by case basis, if they have relevant hands-on experience and are otherwise a strong candidate. The Program Coordinator will make final decisions regarding individual exceptions to this requirement.

Am I eligible to participate in an IE3 Global virtual internship?

A student is eligible to participate in an IE3 Global virtual international internship if they:

Are an Undergraduate (freshman-senior), post-bacc., graduate or PhD student.
Are currently enrolled in a degree program at a participating college or university
Are in good academic standing with a minimum 2.5 GPA*
Pass the conduct and care check for their school.

Read the individual position descriptions for information about required skills, training, and language requirements specific to a particular internship.

PLANNING TO APPLY FOR AN INTERNSHIP

What are the application deadlines for IE3 Global internships?

Application deadlines are as follows:

For Summer term: January 25
For Fall term: April 15
For Winter term: September 1
For Spring term: November 15

When is the best time to do an internship?

Most internships are available all four terms of the year.

Students are advised to consult with an academic advisor about when an internship would best fit into their academic schedule.
Summer is the busiest season for internships and other types of study abroad. This means that study abroad scholarships are more competitive in the summer months.
Some internship programs are only offered during certain terms (see individual program pages).
The content of some internship programs vary seasonally (see individual program pages).
It is possible to do an IE3 Global internship after completing all required classes, or even after graduating, as long as the student remains enrolled at a participating college or university.

How long is an internship?

Most internships are a minimum of 10 weeks.

Most interns do 10-12 week internships.
There are a select few 4-week health internships available in the summer term.
Some internship sites offer internships up to 6, 9 or 12 months.
A few internship sites require a longer commitment. This will be noted on the internship program page.

Am I eligible to participate in an IE3 Global internship?

A student is eligible to apply for an IE3 Global internship if they:

Have junior standing or above. This includes juniors, seniors, post-baccalaureate, graduate, or PhD students
Are currently enrolled in a degree program at a participating college or university
Are in good academic standing with a minimum 2.5 GPA*
Pass the conduct and care check for their school.

Read the individual position descriptions for information about required skills, training, and language requirements specific to a particular internship.

How can I plan for an IE3 Global internship?

To get the most out of the internship, students should start planning ahead and considering these areas:

Logistical Preparation: Timing is critical when planning an internship. Students should think about degree requirements, saving for expenses, and passport application periods in advance. Academic advisors can provide guidance about timing and determine when an international internship will best fit during the student’s college career.
Academic Preparation: The coursework on a student’s transcript is part of their internship application. Some sites are seeking specific academic backgrounds, so a student should conduct research into what courses will prepare them for and compliment their desired internship.
Cultural Preparation: A student should learn about the culture of the country in which they wish to intern. This can be accomplished through reading, research, language learning, meeting students from that country, taking relevant classes, or doing a study abroad program.
Professional Preparation: Many internships prefer students with previous professional or hands-on volunteer experience. Students are strongly encouraged to gain experience in the working world before applying for an internship. If the student’s hands-on/work experience is relevant to their preferred internship, all the better.

How do I work with my campus study abroad advisor?

Each campus in the IE3 Global network has a designated IE3 Global study abroad advisor. The IE3 Global study abroad advisor is a student’s main contact person for advice about applying to an internship and campus-specific topics such as academic credit, registration, financial aid, graduation, and local scholarship opportunities. They advise in the early stages, and in some cases, may meet with the student once an application is complete to make a final recommendation about a student’s candidacy for a program. The campus advisor’s contact information is available on our contact page.

COSTS AND FUNDING:

How much does an IE3 Global internship cost?

See the “Program Cost” section on the individual internship program page to get program cost details and see a summary of estimated living expenses.

IE3 Global Program Fee

The IE3 Global internship program fee includes the following:

Academic credit
- 10-12 wk internship = up to 12 credits
- 4 wk internships = up to 6 credits
Internship placement and administrative costs
International accident and sickness insurance coverage
24/7 Emergency support
Pre-departure support and training
Monitoring and support by IE3 Global staff throughout the internship

Host Site Fees

Some internships have a host site fee. Host site fees cover a variety of expenses. Review the “Program Cost” section on the individual internship page to learn if your prospective internship has an additional fee and if so, what is included in the host site fee.

Estimated Budget

Candidates receive a detailed estimated budget during the interview phase of the application process, so they have a full picture of the program costs, before they are asked to officially commit to the internship.

Can I use student loans, financial aid, academic grants, and scholarships to help fund my internship abroad?

Yes. As with other study abroad programs, student loans, financial aid, academic grants and scholarships can typically be applied towards an IE3 Global internship. As academic credit-bearing, full-time international work experiences, IE3 Global internships are considered a type of study abroad program.

ACADEMIC CREDIT

How do I receive academic credit for my IE3 Global internship?

The processes for obtaining academic credit for internships vary from school to school. As a general guideline, interns earn one (academic quarter) credit for every 30 hours of work. Applicants will be asked in their application to provide a rough idea of their anticipated credit plan. At a later point in the process, interns will be provided campus-specific instructions for finalizing a credit plan.

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS:

What is the selection process for an IE3 Global internship?

IE3 Global assesses candidates based on a variety of criteria that are strong indicators for success on an international internship. In addition to academic and professional qualifications, we look at candidates’ motivations, readiness, skill set, and programmatic fit. Soft skills such as cultural awareness, maturity, professionalism, and ability to work independently are essential to a successful internship and are given appropriate importance in our assessment process. How a candidate interacts with program coordinators and other IE3 Global staff throughout the application process will also be taken into consideration.

Generally, the selection process is as follows:

Application Review: Within their applications, students will submit a resume, cover letter, recommendations, and essay responses. Upon review, program coordinators will select candidates based on the criteria outlined above, and on the clarity of an applicant’s goals as described in their application materials.
Campus Approval: Candidates may meet with their study abroad advisor to discuss any relevant campus-specific logistics and discuss their interest in the program. At a minimum, students must be in good academic standing and have no unresolved issues on their conduct and care check to receive campus approval.
IE3 Global Assessment Interview: The program coordinator will conduct a professional interview to discuss the candidate’s motivations, relevant experience, internship-specific expectations and address candidate questions. Initial acceptance decisions will be made after the assessment interview. Approved candidates will receive an email that officially confirms they are moving forward in the process and outlines next steps.
Referral to the Internship Site: If approved by their school and IE3 Global, a candidate referral will be sent to the internship site for final consideration. The internship host site is the employer and therefore has final authority to accept an intern.
Confirmation of Placement: If approved by the host organization, a candidate will receive a formal approval email from IE3 Global confirming their internship placement. The program coordinator will also provide guidance about pre-departure logistics like purchasing plane tickets, visa processes, and visiting a travel clinic.

INTERN PREPARATION AND SUPPORT

When are the orientations and what do they cover?

All IE3 Global participants are required to attend a pre-departure orientation and a site-specific orientation. Pre-Departure Orientation will include general training sessions on culture, health and safety, and logistics. Site-Specific Orientation dives further into these topics as relates to the intern’s host country and host site.

Pre-Departure Orientations are conducted at regular intervals throughout the year in Oregon and online for individuals outside of Oregon. Specific dates and locations will be announced to final candidates; pre-departure orientations are usually held on Saturdays, along the following timeline:

Summer and Fall Internships: mid-May
Winter Internships: late October/early November
Spring Internships: mid-February

Site-Specific Orientations are scheduled by the program coordinator, and typically take place online.

Orientation attendance is mandatory for all IE3 Global interns. If there are extenuating circumstances that would prevent you from attending orientation, please discuss this with your program coordinator as soon as possible.

Your school may also require that you attend a pre-departure orientation for their outbound study abroad students. Your study abroad office will inform you of this requirement, if applicable.

How does IE3 Global support intern health and safety?

At IE3 Global, intern health and safety is our top priority. IE3 Global is committed to providing interns with the guidance and resources they need to live and work abroad safely and healthily, while mitigating risk. Here are some of the ways we support interns:

Pre-Departure Training: This training covers a variety of topics, including cultural awareness, issues of health and safety, and ways to mitigate risk.
Past Participants: Students can be connected with past participants so they can ask questions and get advice from their peers.
Emergency Contact Sheet: This sheet includes emergency numbers for: IE3 Global, the local US embassy or consulate, host site contacts and our international insurance.
International accident and sickness insurance: This plan covers medical care, mental health assistance and emergency assistance in the event of natural disaster, political unrest, etc.
Safety and Security Monitoring: Program Coordinators track safety and security news, events, and U.S. State Department reports and share relevant information with students in the relevant areas.
24/7 Emergency Support: Our Health and Safety Coordinator is on call 24/7.
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP): This U.S. State Department program allows interns to receive real-time notifications about safety and security news and events for their host country. It also ensures that the U.S. government knows their whereabouts while abroad in the unlikely event they should need assistance, for example in the case of a natural disaster.
Travel Clinic Appointment: Students are advised to make an appointment with a travel clinic or their own doctor in preparation for their study abroad.

PAST IE3 GLOBAL INTERNS:

I am a former IE3 Global intern. How can I support IE3 Global and future interns?

There are many opportunities to contribute to IE3 Global and our future interns upon your return, some of which are listed below. For more information, write to us at info@ie3global.org.

Send us pictures and videos of your internship experience–please include descriptions when possible.
Send us an email and let us know how your internship impacted you, your worldview, your future, your career path, etc.
Let us know if you would be interested in being profiled for a feature on our social media.
Let us know if you would like to help out at an IE3 Global event (class visits, study abroad fairs, information sessions, etc.)